Air conditioning system



armors r connrrro lsrs'rror Lawrence A. hhilipp, it, Mich or,'hy

mcsne assi a in cuts, to Nash-Kelator Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of iii in attach February a, rest, Sell No. water new .i 3, 1937 In carrying out the foregoing object, it is another object of the present invention to control the heat exchange between the heat dissipator and the ice making apt atus in accordance with the temmrature of the heat absorber; to control the operation of the ice making apparatus in accordance with the temperature of the heat absorber.

A further object of the present invention is to interpose a receiver for liquid refrigerant, which 0 refrigerant is condensed in a heat dissipator, be-

tween such dissipator and the heat absorber, and cause the liquid refrigerant to flow from the dissipator to the receiver intermittently; to provide for the escape of gaseous refrigerant intermittently from the receiver toward the dissipator: to utilize heat, created by the refrigerating apparatus which cools the heat dissipator, for

heating the receiver; to cool the heated refriger ant, of the refrigerating apparatus which cools the heat dissipator, by the refrigerant contained .within the receiver.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a refrigerating system of the type in which the heat dissipator thereof is maintained at a lower temperature than the heat absorber and control the heat exchange between the heat dissipator and a cooling medium therefor in accordance with the temperature of the dissipator.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form oi embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of my improved refrigerating system; and

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of one Jf the valves employed therein.

The present invention may be employed for cooling any type of chamber or chambers and is herein shown as employed for cooling at plurality of rooms in which 20 designatesdiagrammatically one room and 2| another room. In each of these rooms there is provided a heat absorber herein shown as evaporators 23 and 2.

(Ci. 6H)

Liquid refrigerant is conducted by the pipe 25 to the evaporator 23 and by the pipe 25 and branch pipe 26 to the evaporator 2t. Vaporized refrigerant is conducted from the evaporator 23 through a pipe 28, a valve 29 and a pipe it and, from evaporator it through a pipe 32, valve 33, branch pipe Maud pipe 30 to a heat dissipator herein shown as a condenser 36. The condensed refrigerant is conducted by a pipe it to an intermittent accumulator or dump valve it, whence the refrigerant flows intermittently through a pipe fit to a receiver it which feeds the liquid refrigerant pipe 25.

Any suitable type of expansion valve may be employed between the pipe 25 and the evaporators 2t and 2t, and in the present illustration I have shown flooded evaporators each comprising a header t3 inclosing a float it which float actuates a needle valve t5 and normally maintains the refrigerant level constant within the header it. A plurality of tubes it extend longitudinally of the header and are connected at one end to the header t3 and at the other end to a header M. The pipe 28 of evaporator 23 and the pipe 32 of evaporator it are connected above the liquid refrigerant level in the headers til so that only gaseous refrigerant will be withdrawn through these outlet pipes. Fins it are intimately connected with the tubes to for the purpose of increasing the heat absorbing surface of the tubes it. The flow of gaseous refrigerant from the evaporators 23 and M is controlled respectively by valves 29 and 33. These valves are identical in construction and are responsive respectively to the pressure of the refrigerant within the evaporators. Valve 29 includes a casing 50 having an outlet 5.! leading to pipe 30. One wall of the casing 50 is flexible and is herein shown as a flexible diaphragm 52 which carries a valve 53 for opening and closing the port ti. A second casing 54 covers the upper side of the diaphragm 52 and retains a spring 55 and a screw 56 by which tension of the spring may be adjusted. By adjusting the screw 56 any desirable temperature may be maintained within the respective evaporator. When the pressure within theevaporator rises above a certain setting of the valve 29, the diaphragm 52 will be flexed upwardly to open the valve 53 and permit the withdrawal of gaseous refrigerant from the evaporator and, when the pressure within the evaporator is reduced to the desired minimum, the diaphragm 52 will close the valve 53 so as to prevent the further flow of gaseous refrigerant from the evaporator.

A condenser-cooler 88 is in intimate heat exchange relation with the condenser 38 to cool the latter for cooling and condensing the gaseous refrlgerant flowing from the evaporators 23 and 28. The liquid refrigerant is delivered by pipe 31 to the accumulator or dump valve 38, and when a predetermined quantity of liquid refrigerant is accumulated within the accumulator or dump valve 38, the accumulator or dump valve 38 is opened to feed a quantity of the liquid to the receiver II. The accumulator or dump valve 38 is shown in detail in Fig. 2 and comprises a main base 6| and a casing 82. Pipe 31 is connected to the inlet opening 68 of accumulator or dump valve 38 and the outlet opening 64 thereof is connected to pipe 46. The inlet 63 and outlet 68 are controlled respectively by valves 65 and 66. Valve 65 is carried by a lever 88 pivoted to a post 69 and valve 66 is carried by a lever 'lI pivoted to a post I2. The levers 68 and H are actuated by a yoke 13 and are so arranged that when valve 65 is open, valve 66 is closed and vice versa. A rod It is connected to the connecting portion of the yoke I3 and the upper end of the rod extends into a socket carried by the casing 82. Rod III carries two abutments I1 and I8 and a float is slidably disposed on the rod 18 and between the abutments Ti and i8. The float T8 is shown in its lowermost position in the drawing and when more refrigerant is delivered to the valve 38 through the pipe 31, the float I9 will rise and flnally engage abutment I7 whereby to raise the rod III and yoke I3 and reverse the positions of the valves 85 and 68; namely, close the valve 65 and open the valve 66.

It is desirable to move the valves 85 and 88 from their open or closed position to their closed or open position quickly and for this purpose there is provided a snap acting mechanism including two levers ill and 82 which have their inner ends connected to a pin 83 and their outer ends connected to a coil spring 88. The outside ends of the levers 8i and 82 extend through openings 85 in the yoke 13 and are arranged to be raised and lowered by the yoke. The yoke I3 is shown in its lowermost position and when the float I9 engages the abutment I'I, the yoke I3 will be raised and will cause the outside ends of the levers 8| and 82 to be raised. When the levers 8i and 82 are moved to beyond their dead center position with respect to the pin 83, the cross spring 84 will quickly raise the yoke 13 to quickly actuate levers 68 and II. Levers 68 and II extend through slots 86 in the yoke I3 and the slits are of such length that the yoke will not engage the levers 68 and II until the levers 8i and 82 have been moved beyond their dead center position and in this manner the valves will remain in the position shown until they are quickly actuated by the yoke 13. Weights 88 and 89 are provided on the levers 68 and 'I I, respectively, for the purpose of holding the valves in the position shown while the yoke is being slowly moved upwardly so that it will be seen that liquid refrigerant which is condensed by the condenser 36 continuously flows into the accumulator or dump valve 38 until a predetermined quantity of liquid refrigerant is accumulated in the accumulator or dump valve 38 and then the liquid refrigerant is directed into the receiver ll. The outlet opening 64 of the accumulator or dump valve 88 is relatively large so as to permit the ready escape of gas from the receiver ll to the accumulator or dump valve 38 when the valve 66 is open. When the valve 66 is open, the gas from the receiver 4| airmen cannot enter the condenser 88 because at this time the inlet valve 65 is closed.

The condenser cooler 60 is maintained at a lower temperature than the condenser 38 and the gaseous refrigerant from the evaporators 23 and 2 5 is withdrawn therefrom by the cooling of the condenser 38 and the condensed refrigerant is intermittently fed by the accumulator or dump valve 38 to the receiver 4i and the gas generated within receiver 4| intermittently escapes to the dump valve 38 where it is cooled and condensed by the circulating liquid refrigerant remaining in accumulator or dump valve 38. The outlet valves 29 and 33 may be adjusted to maintain the same temperatures in the evaporators 23 and 24 or different temperatures, if desirable.

The condenser-cooler 60 is herein shown as being cooled by an artificial ice making apparatus. This apparatus includes a tank 9|, containing, for example, water which is cooled by an evaporator 92. This water is circulated through the condenser cooler 60 by a pump 93 which is driven by a motor 88. The water is withdrawn from the bottom of the tank ill by a pipe 96 and is delivered to the cooler 60 by a pipe 91. The water from the condenser cooler 80 is delivered by a pipe 98 to the upper end of the tank 9 I. The circuit for the motor 98 includes wire I08, motor 94, wire IOI, controller I82 and wire I03. In this manner cold liquid is continuously circulated in heat exchange relation with the heat dissipator 36. Gaseous refrigerant is withdrawn from the evaporator 92 through a pipe I04 which is connected to the low pressure side of a compressor I05. The gaseous refrigerant is compressed by the compressor I85 and delivered to a condenser section I66 which may be cooled in any suitable manner so as to condense the compressed gas. From the section I 08, the liquid refrigerant flows by way of pipe IIJI to a section I08, which is in intimate heat exchange relation with the receiver 4 I to cool the liquid refrigerant. The cooled liquid refrigerant is delivered by a pipe III] to a high-side-type float II I. This float includes a chamber I I2 having an outlet H3 in the bottom thereof which is controlled by a valve I I4, and the valve in turn is actuated by a float I I5. When a predetermined quantity of liquid accumulates within the chamber H2, the .float H5 will open the valve H4 to permit the escape of liquid through the port H3 to a pipe I I6 which leads to an inlet of the evaporator 32.

The compressor I05 is driven by a motor H8 which is controlled by a snap switch H8. The circuit for the motor is as follows: wire I00, snap switch H8, wire I20, motor H8 and wire I83. The snap switch H8 is of the pressure operated type and is responsive to variations in pressure in a pipe I22 and a bulb I23. The bulb I23 is disposed within the ice tank 9| and may be of the freezing thermostat type, that is, when the fluid therein freezes and expands it will cause the actuating of the switch I I9 to open the motor circuit and, when the congealed fluid within the valve I23 melts, pressure therein and in the pipe I22 will be decreased and cause the switch H8 to close the motor circuit. -z- I The operation of the compressor I05 will cause a lowering of temperature of the evaporator 92 and a consequent cooling of the liquid within the tank 9|, and the circulation of the liquid by the pump 93 will cause a cooling of the condensercooler 66 to cool the condenser 36.

The quantity of water flowing through condenser-cooler 60 is controlled by varying the angers speed of the pump 93 by. varying the speed of the motor 9t. For this purpose, there is provided a variable speed control I02 which is actuated by a rod I25, controlled by a pressure bellows i2t. The pressure within the bellows i2t varies in response to the change in pressure within the condenser 36, it being connected by a pipe l2'l to the outlet pipe 31 of the condenser 35. The arrangement is such that when the pressure is high in the condenser 36, the pressure is also high in the bellows i26,- and the controller then causes the motor M to operate at full speed and as the pressure within the condenser 36 decreases, the speed of the motor at is decreased relatively. In this manner the pressure and, therefore, the temperature within the condenser, is maintained substantially constant. Ifboth outlet valves 29 and 33 of evaporators 23 and 24 are wide open, thus permitting a large quantity of gas to escape therefrom; the pressure within the condenser will be increased and the motor M will operate at high speed so as to cause a large quantity of cooling medium to be circulated over the condenser it. When one of the valves 29 closes or decreases the flow of refrigerant to the condenser 26, the flow of cooling medium through the condenser cooler 60 will be decreased.

When the demand for refrigeration by the evaporators 23 and 2% is relatively small, the com pressor Hi5, nevertheless, continues to operate until a large quantity of ice is made within the tank M so that this reserve of ice may be utilized for cooling the condenser cooler t when the demand for refrigeration by evaporators 23 and 2t is in excess of the cooling capacity of the compressor Hi5. In this manner therefrigerating apparatus, including the compressor we need not be of a size sumcient to satisfy the peak demand of the evaporators 23 and 2t. It will be understood that the pipe 96 is disposed beyond the ice zone in tank M.

The refrigerant in the condenser it and in the accumulator or dump valve 38 is relatively cold and it is not desirable to deliver this cold refrigerant by way of pipe 25,to the evaporators 23 and 2t since if this refrigerant is cold, pipe 25 must be thoroughly insulated. By disposing the section M8 within the receiver ti the liquid refrigerant within the receiver it will be heated. When the condenser 36 is located below the evaporators 2t and 2%, as herein shown, the liquid refrigerant is lifted to the evaporators from the receiver M due to increasing of pressure of the refrigerant in the receiver. The increased pressure in the receiver it is caused by section ltd. Preferably, the ice tank 90, the condenser cooler till, the condenser 26, the accumulator or dump valve it and the receiver ti. are disposed within an insulated housing I29 which is usually disposed within the basement of the building.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that Ihave provided a refrigerating system in which a pinrality of chambers to be cooled, such as rooms 2% and the compressor motor will remain inactive until the ice melts about the thermostat.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein described constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow:

1. Refrigerating systemcomprising, in combination, an evaporator, a heat dissipator connected with the evaporator for receiving refrigerant therefrom and for liquefying vaporized refrigerant, means for causing cooling of the heat dissipator, a liquid refrigerant receiver connected with the heat dissipator for receiving refrigerant therefrom, and connected with the evaporator for 5 delivering liquid refrigerant thereto, and means interposed between the dissipator and the receiver for causing intermittent flow of liquid from the dissipator to the receiver.

2. A refrigerating system comprising, in coma liquid refrigerant receiver connected with the heat dissipator for receiving refrigerant therefrom, and connected with the evaporator for delivering liquid refrigerant thereto, means interposed between the dissipator and the receiver for causing intermittent flow of liquid from the dissipator to the receiver, and means for heating the refrigerant in said receiver.

3. A refrigerating system comprising, in combination, an evaporator, a heat dissipator connected with the evaporator for receiving refrig-.35

erant therefrom and for liquefying vaporized refrigerant, means for cooling the heat dissipator, means responsive to the condition of the evaporator for controlling the heat exchange between the heat dissipator and the cooling means, 40

a liquid refrigerant receiver connected with the' heat dissipator for receiving refrigerant therefrom and connected with the evaporator for delivering liquid refrigerant thereto, and means interposed between the dissipator and the receiver for causing intermittent flow of liquid from the dissipator to the receiver.

4. A refrigerating system comprising, in combination, an evaporator, a heat dissipator connected with the evaporator for receiving refrigerant therefrom and for liquefying vaporized refrigerant, means for circulating a cooling medium in heat exchange relation with the heat dissipator, means responsive to the condition of the evaporator for controlling the circulating means,

a liquid refrigerant receiver connected with the heat dissipator for receiving refrigerant therefrom and connected with the evaporator for delivering liquid refrigerant thereto, and means interposed between the dissipator and the receiver '60 for causing intermittent flow of liquid from the dissipator to the receiver.

5. A refrigerating system comprising, in combination, refrigeratingapparatus, said apparatus including an evaporator, and means for withdrawing gaseous refrigerant from the evaporator and for compressing and condensing the same and for delivering the condensed refrigerant to the evaporator; a second refrigerating apparatus including an evporator, means in heat exchange relation with the first mentioned evaporator for withdrawing gaseous refrigerant from the second mentioned evaporator and for condensing the same, a receiver connected with the second mentioned means for receiving liquid refrigerant therefrom and connected with the second mentioned evaporator for delivering liquid refrigerant thereto; and means for subjecting the liquid in the receiver to the heat of compression of the first refrigerating apparatus.

6. A refrigerating system comprising, in combination, refrigerating apparatus, said apparatus including an evaporator, and means for withdrawing gaseous refrigerant from the evaporator and for compressing and condensing the same and for delivering the condensed refrigerant to the evaporator; a second refrigerating apparatus including an evaporator and a condenser operatively connected with the second mentioned evaporator; and means providing for heat exchange between the means of the first refrigerating apparatus and the refrigerant condensed by said condenser.

7. A refrigerating system comprising, in combination, a refrigerating apparatus, said apparatus including an evaporator, and means for withdrawing gaseous refrigerant from the evaporator and for compressing and condensing the same and for delivering the condensedrefrigerant to the evaporator; a second refrigerating apparatus including an evaporator and a condenser in heat exchange relation with the first mentioned evaporator, and operatively connected with the second mentioned evaporator; and means providing for heat exchange between the means of the first refrigerating apparatus and the refrigerant condensed by said condenser. I

8. A refrigerating system comprising, in combination, a refrigerating apparatus including a plurality of evaporators, a condenser operatively connected with the evaporators, means for causing cooling of the condenser to a lower temperature than the evaporators, means responsive tothe pressure of the refrigerant in one of said evaporators for controlling the flow of refrigerant from said evaporator to the condenser, means responsive to the pressure of refrigerant within the condenser for controlling the heat exchange between the condenser and the condenser cooling means, and means interposed between the condenser and the evaporator for causing intermittent unloading of liquid refrigerant from the condenser.

9. A refrigerating system comprising, in combination, a refrigerating apparatus including a plurality of evaporators, a condenser operatively connected with. the evaporators, means responsive to the condition of one of said evaporators for controlling the fiow of refrigerant therefrom to the condenser, means for causing cooling of said condenser to a temperature lower than the evaporators, means responsive to the temperature of the refrigerant for controlling the heat exchange between the condenser and the condenser cooling means, and means interposed between the condenser and the evaporator for causing intermittent unloading of liquid refrigerant from the condenser.

10. A refrigerating system comprising, in combination, a refrigerating apparatus including a plurality of evaporators, a condenser operatively connected with the evaporators, means for circulating a cooling medium in heat exchange relation with the condenser, the temperature of such medium being colder than that of the evaporators, means responsive to the condition of one of said evaporators for controlling the flow of refrigerant therefrom to the condenser, means responsive to the temperature of the condenser for controlling the cooling medium circulating aurora means, and means interposed between the condenser and the evaporator for causing intermittent unloading of liquid refrigerant from the condenser.

11. A refrigerating system comprising, in combination, a heat absorber, a heat dissipator operatively connected therewith, means for cooling the heat dissipator to a temperature lower than that of the absorber, and means responsive to the temperature of the heat dissipator for controlling the heat exchange between the dissipator and the first mentioned means, and means interposed between the condenser and the evaporator for causing intermittent unloading of liquid refrigerant from the condenser.

12. A refrigerating system comprising, in combination, a heat absorber, a heat dissipator operatively connected therewith, means for circulating a liquid cooling medium in heat exchange relation with the heat dissipator, an ice making apparatus for cooling said liquid cooling medium, and means responsive to the temperature of the heat dissipator for controlling the heat exchange between the heat dissipator and the liquid cooling medium.

13. A refrigerating system comprising, in combination, an evaporator, a condenser operatively connected thcrewith, means for circulating a liquid cooling medium in heat exchange relation with the condenser, an ice making apparatus for cooling said liquid cooling medium, and means responsive to the pressure of refrigerant in the evaporator for controlling the heat exchange between the condenser and the liquid cooling medium.

14. A refrigerating system comprising in combination, an evaporator, a heat dissipator connected with the evaporator for receiving refrigerant therefrom, means for causing cooling of the heat dissipator, a liquid refrigerant receiver connected with the evaporator for delivering liquid refrigerant to the evaporator, and means interposed between the heat dissipator and receiver and responsive to an accumulation of liquid refrigerant received from the heat dissipator for delivering to the receiver, at one period of time, the liquid accumulated.

15. A refrigerating system comprising in combination, an evaporator, a heat dissipator connected with the evaporator for receiving refrigerant therefrom, means for causing cooling of the heat dissipator, a liquid refrigerant receiver connected with the evaporator for delivering liquid refrigerant to the evaporator, an accumulator interposed between the heat dissipator and the receiver and means for alternately connecting the accumulator with the heat dissipator and with the receiver.

16. A refrigerating system comprising in combination, an evaporator, a heat dissipator connected with the evaporator for receiving refrigerant therefrom, means for causing cooling of the heat dissipator, a liquid refrigerant receiver connected with the evaporator for delivering liquid refrigerant to the evaporator, an accumulator. interposed between the heat dissipator and the receiver, valve mechanism' for alternately connecting the accumulator with the heat dissipator and with the receiver, and means responsive to the quantity of liquid refrigerant in the accumulator for actuating the valve mechanism.

17. A refrigerating system comprising, in combination, an evaporator, a heat-dissipator connected with the evaporator for receiving refrigerrefrigerant is accumulating in said accumulator.

18. A refrigerating system comprising, in combination, an evaporator, a heat dissipator connected with the evaporator for receiving refrigerant therefrom, means for causing cooling of the ,heat dissipator, a liquid refrigerant receiver connected with the heat dissipator for receiving refrigerant therefrom, and connected with the evaporator for delivering liquid refrigerant thereto, means responsive to an accumulation of liquid refrigerant condensed by the heat dissipator for delivering to the receiver, at one period of time, the liquid accumulated, and means operable while the condensed refrigerant is accumulating for increasing the pressure of the refrigerant in the receiver.

19. A refrigerating system comprising, in combination, refrigerating apparatus, said apparatus including an evaporator, and means for withdrawing gaseous refrigerant from the evaporator and for compressing and condensing the same and for delivering the condensed refrigerant to the evaporator; a second refrigerating apparatus including an evaporator, means in heat exchange relation with the first mentioned evaporator for withdrawing gaseous refrigerant from the second mentioned evaporator and for condensing the same, a receiver connected with the second mentioned evaporator for delivering liquid refrigerant to the same evaporator, means interposed between the second mentioned means and receiver and responsive to an accumulation of condensed refrigerant for delivering to the receiver, at one period of time, the liquid accumulated; and means for subjecting the liquid in the receiver to the heat of compression of, the first refrigerating apparatus.

20. A refrigerating system comprising, in combination, refrigerating apparatus, said apparatus including an evaporator, and means for withdrawing gaseous refrigerant from' the evaporator and for compressing and condensing the same and for delivering the condensed refrigerant to the evaporator; a second refrigerating apparatus including an evaporator, means in heat exchange relation with the first mentioned evaporator for withdrawing gaseous refrigerant from the second mentioned evaporator and for condensing the same, a receiver connected with the second mentioned means for receiving liquid refrigerant.

ond mentioned means for delivering to the receiver, at one period of time, the liquid accumulated; and means for subjecting the liquid in the receiver to the heat of compression of the first refrigerating apparatus.

LAWRENCE A. ilsli 

